Electric lanterns or torches



April 1962 WING G. CHENG I 3,030,497

ELECTRIC LANTERNS OR TORCHES Filed June 22, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR W. 6. Cheng ATTORNEYS p l 1962 WING s. CHENG 3,030,497

ELECTRIC LANTERNS 0R TORCHES Filed June 22, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3

INVENTQR W 6. Cheng @MJWM A TORNEYS April 1962 wme G. CHENG 3,030,497

ELECTRIC LANTERNS 0R TORCHES Filed June 22, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lllllllllliii -95 flNVENTOR W 6, Cheng WMWM ATTORNEYS April 1962 WING e. CHENG 3,030,497

ELECTRIC LANTERNS OR TORCHES Filed June 22, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,036,497 ELEETREC LANTERNS 0R TORCI-IES Wing G. Cheng, 1 Forfar Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong Filed June 22, 19 t), Ser. No. 37,934 Claims priority, application Great Britain Dec. 8, 1959 3 Ciaims. (Ci. 240-1053) This invention relates to electric lanterns comprising a battery casing and a plurality of electric lamp holders containing electric lamps which can be energised by a battery fitted into the battery casing.

An object of the invention is the provision of an electric lantern which is of relatively compact construction and neat appearance. A further object is the provision of an electric lantern which will provide a more even field of illumination than hitherto. A still further object is the provision of an electric lantern which embodies a further lamp holder which can be arranged to project a beam of light in the same direction as a main lamp holder of the lantern and can be rearrangedto project a beam of light in the opposite direction to that main lamp holder. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the subsequent descriptionof an embodiment of the invention.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying partly diagrammatic drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective drawing of an electric lantern;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the lantern;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the lantern;

FIGURE 4 is a plan 'view of the lantern with the upper'part of the casing opened;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevation of the lantern;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of an auxiliary lamp holder shown in FIGURES l to 5 and of an articulated support frame on which thelamp holder is mounted;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of the parts shown in FIGURE 6 but with the articulated parts of the support differently orientated;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective drawing similar to FIGURE 1 but with the articulated parts of a support for the auxiliary lamp holder difierently orientated;

' FIGURE 9 shows diiferent orientations of adjacent sections of articulated parts of the support shown in FIGURE 6, given as sub-figures (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e); p

FEGURE 10 is an electrical circuit diagram of the lantern; and

FiGURE 11 is a sectional plan view of two main lamps shown in FIGURE 1.

The body of the electrical lantern is in the form of a battery casing 1 which is a metal box comprising a relatively shallow lower part 2 designed to accommodate four unit cells 3 arranged in two rows side by side, and a flanged upper lid part 4 connected to the lower part 2 along one pair of adjacent edges by a hinge 5. At the opposite side of the battery casing a catch 6 provided on the lower part 2 is arranged to enter a slot 7 in the upper lid part 4- and so to retain the lid in the closed position. As indicated in FIGURE 4, the unit cells 3 are so arranged that they are electrically in series, a springy metal contact strip 8 mounted on an insulating strip 9 riveted to the inside of a rear wall 1A of the casing it serving to join the electrical contacts of the two adjacent cells. At a front end Wall 18 of the casing 1 two resilient contact strips 10 and 11 are mounted on an insulating strip 12 riveted to the wall 1B in line with one another and so as to contact the electrical contacts of the two adjacent cells. Contact 16} is the positive contact strip and contact 11 is the negative contact strip:' The resilience of these contact strips is suflicient to force 15B of this bracket level and parallel with the side walls of the battery casing. The forward ends of the arms 15A and 15B are provided with aligned pivot pins 17 connected to opposite sides of an oval outer carrier cup 19. The closed forward side 19A of this cup is formed with two large apertures 21 each of which is provided with a forwardly extending screw-threaded ring 23 the rear end of which is rolled over at 25 to engage the edge of the corresponding aperture 21. A parabolic lamp reflector 27 is inserted into each of the rings 23 and is retainedtherein by a ring-like cap 2% screwed on to the ring 23. The central opening in each cap 29 is closed by a cover glass or lens 31 which is retained by the cap in position between the cap and the rim of the reflector. Each reflector 27 is provided at its rearward end with a screw-threaded socket 33 into which is screwed a lamp holder 35 moulded from synthetic plastics material and having a lamp bulb 37 fitted therein. A second, inner oval carriercup 39 has its wall 39 inserted into the wall of the carrier cup 19 and fixed to that cup by rolling of the rearward edge 19' of the cup 19 over the adjacent edge of the carrier cup 39. The closed side of the carrier cup 39 is formed with two apertures 41 in each of which is fitted a protective shell 43, these shells covering respectively the rearward sides of the two reflectors 27. Inside each shell is mounted a strip of insulating material 45 on which is mounted a metal contact strip 47 arranged to make contact with a metal rivet 49 fixed in the bottom of the lamp holder 35.

The lantern is provided with a metal carrying handle 51 of inverted U-shape extending centrally along the lid part 4 of the battery casing 1 from the front end 18 to the rear end 1A. Also mounted on the lid part 4 is a foldable frame 55 adapted to serve as a support for a third lamp bulb holder 57. This foldable frame is made in two parts 55A and 55B. The first part 55A is U-shaped and is secured to the battery casing 1 in front of the handle 51 by a hinge 59 connected to its base part 60 and the axis of which extends transversely of the casing-1. The second part 55B is also U-shaped and is connected to the first part 55A by hinge means comprising two co-axial hinges 61 each of which connects one of the legs of the part 55A to one of the legs of the part 55B. The base part 63 of the second part 553 is connected to a mounting plate 65 for the third lamp holder 57. The

space between the legs of the U-shaped parts 55A and 55B is greater than the width of the handle 51, and the distance between the base parts 69 and d3, when the parts 55A and 55B are extended into alignment, is greater than the length of the handle, so that the third lamp holder 57 can be swung from a position shown in FIGURE 6,

in which the legs of the U-shaped parts 55A, 5513 will lie on opposite sides of the handlefil, to the position shown in FIGURE 1.

The side members or legs of the first part 55A are of channel shaped transverse cross-section (see FIGURE 8), while the side. members or legs of the second part 55B are of substantially flat transverse cross-section apart from a longitudinally extending central stiffening ridge. The width of each of the legs of the second part 55B is somewhat less than the distance between the webs of each leg of the first part 55A, so that the second part may be swung on the hinges 61 to bring the legs of part 558 between the webs of the legs of part 55A, as shown in FIGURES l to 4. To each of the legs of the said part s' 55B is secured a flat metal spring strip 71 by a bent metal clip 72 which has its ends clamped round the sides of the leg, The spring strip 71 extends beyond the hinge 61 associated with the leg to which it is attached and operatively engages an adjacent part 73 of the first part 55A of the frame or support 55'. As the relative positions of p .the first part 55 A and the second part 553 are changed 'byoperation of the hinges 61, the moments set up about the hinge'61 by the interaction of the spring strip 71 and the part 73 will provide a tendency for the parts to lock when the first and second parts lie side by side (see FIGURE 9(a)), when the first and second parts extend away from the hinge 61 at right angles to one another (see FIGURE 9(0) and when the first and second parts extend away from the hinge 61 in opposite directions (see FIGURE 9(e)).

The provision of the articulated frame SSpermits the signal lamp 57 to be set into five different positions, namely:

Position 1 as show in FIGURES 1 to and 9(a), in. which the frame part 55A lies flat against the top of the battery casing 1 withthe legs of the frame part 5513 super-' respect to those lamp holders.

7 Position 2 as shown in FIGURES 7 and 9(0), in which the frame part 55A lies flat against the top of the battery casing 1 and the frame part 5513 extends upwardly from the hinges 61 at right angles to the part 55A. The. lamp holder 57 is then raised above the battery casing 1 and is directed upwardly.

Position 3 as shown in FIGURE 8, in which the frame part 55A extends perpendicularly upwards from the battery casing 1 and the frame part 558 is' in alignment with the part 55A and extends in the opposite direction away from the hinges 61. In this position the thirdlamp holder .bring it into the position shown in FIGURE 9(a).

ing to move frame part 551% in a clockwise direction to In FIGURE 9(e) the line of action of the force between the spring 71 and the part 73 passes through the axis of hinge 61; and the increased frictional force between the parts of hinge 61 due to this force tend to keep the parts in this position.

handle 51, and includes 'a fixedswitch contact 83 (see FIGURE 10) connected directly by a flexible conductor to the positive battery contact strip 19 and a movable switch contact 87 connected to the metal handle 51. The

, switch contact 87. a

57 is fully raised from the battery casing and is directed upwardly.

'Position 4 as shown in FIGURES 6 and 9(2 in which the frame parts 55A and SSB both lie flat against the top of the battery casing 1 and the frame part 553 extends away from the hinges 61 in a direction. Opposite from that ing 1, and is directed forwardly ofthe battery casing to project a beam of light parallel to the composite beam of light from the two main lamps.

As will be clear from FIGURES 9(o)ito '9(e), when turning the part 5513 of the frame relatively to the part 55A about the hinges 61, the fiat spring strips .71 coast with the parts 73 to'cause a locking or snap action when the two frame parts 55A and 55B lie side by side, at right angles to one another, and at opposite sides of the hinges 61,'i.e. at 180 degrees to one another. In FIGURE 9(a) the force between spring 71 and part sets up a moment tending to move frame part 555 in an anticlockwise direction into contact with the part 55A; In FIGURE 9( b) the force between spring 71 and the part 73 sets up a moment tending to move frame part 553 in a clockwise direction to bring it into the position shown in FIGURE 9(0). In FIGURE 9(a) the line of action of the force between the spring 71 and the part 73 passes through the axis of hinge 51; the increased frictional force between the parts of hinge (il'due to this force tends to keep the parts in this position; and should the-part 55B become slightly displaced, a moment is set up tending to restore it to the position in this figure. In FIGURE 9(d) the force between spring 71 and the part 73 sets up a moment tendtwo metal contact strips 47 associated with the bottom contacts of the lamp bulbs 37 are connected together by a flexible insulated conductor 39 and by a flexible insulated conductor 91 to the negative battery contact strip 11. The other contacts or shells of these two lamp bulbs 37 are connected tothe metal reflectors 27 and thus through the contacting metal parts of the lantern to the movable Thethird lamp holder 57 is provided with a switch 95, the fixed switch contact 97 of which is connected bya flexible insulated conductor 99 to the negative battery contact strip 11. The movable contact 101 of switch is connected to the bottom contact of the bulb 103 in the lamp holder 57. Ihe other contact or shell of the bulb 193 is connected by an insulated flexible conductor to the positive battery contact strip 10. .The construction of this lamp holder 57 and the switch 95 is similar to that of the corresponding parts disclosed in my copending patent application, Serial No. 784,239, filed on December 31, 1958, now Patent No. 3,003,057, issued October 3, 1961. 3 i 7 When the switch controlling the two main lamp bulbs 37' is in the on position the circuit is as follows: positive battery contact strip 10, flexible conductor 85, fixed switch contact'83, movable switch contact 87, handle 51, battery casing 1, shellsof bulbs 37, filaments, bottom contacts of bulbs 37, conductor89, conductor 91, negative battery contact strip 11.

When the switch controlling the third lamp bulb 103 is in the on position the circuit is as follows: positive battery contact strip 10, flexible conductor 195, shell contact of lamp bulb 193, filment, bottom contact of lamp 103, movable contact-161 of switch 95, fixed contact 97, flexible conductor Q9, negative battery contact strip 11.

The electric lantern described above is of very compact construction. It has a very neat and attractive appearance, particularly when the third lamp holder 57 is positioned at the front of the lantern as shown in FIGURE 1,

where it is located centrally between but above the'two When the two main lamp bulbsmain lamp bulbs 37. are switched on the two light beams respectively from these two bulbs are superimposed to provide a substantially uniform field of illumination without the usual annular dark area. Further, since it'is most unlikely that both of the main lamp bulbs 37 will burn out at the same mounted at the front end of said casing in side by side relationship, two lampholders mounted respectively one in each of said-reflectors, a lamp bulb mounted in each of said lampholders, said reflectors being arranged to direct the two beams of lightfrom-said-larnp bulbs which i ,are substantially parallel and merge to form a single com posite beam, a switch mounted-on said carrying handle and adapted to energize the two lamp bulbs in unison. a

third lamp bulb holder, a support for said third lamp bulb holder, said support being separate from and arranged to straddle said carrying handle and rest directly on the battery casing, said support including a first part and a second part, a first hinge connecting said first part to the battery casing adjacent to the front end thereof, a second hinge connecting said first part to said second part, the axes of said hinges extending transversely to the said battery casing, the sum of the distance between the said first and second hinges and the distance between the second hinge and the third lamp bulb holder being greater than the distance between the rear end of the casing and the first hinge, whereby the third lamp bulb holder can be positioned at the front end of the battery casing, directed forwardly therefrom, or at the rear end of the battery casing, directed rearwardly therefrom, or spaced from the front end of the battery casing in a direction transverse thereto and means for retaining the said third lamp bulb holder in any one of the three positions referred to.

2. An electric lantern according to claim 1, in which the first part of the support is of U-shape with the hinge connecting this part to the battery casing extending along the base of the U, the second part of the support is of U-shape, and the hinge means connecting the first part to the second part consist of two separate co-axially arranged hinges each connecting one leg of the first part to one leg of the second part.

3. An electric lantern according to claim 1, in which the said retaining means for the said third lamp bulb holder comprises a fiat spring blade attached to one of the two parts of the support in the vicinity of the hinge means connecting the two parts, and the spring blade is arranged to engage the other of these two parts adjacent the hinge means in such a manner as to tend to lock the two parts against relative rotation at the hinge means in each of the three positions referred to.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Tolbot et a1 Nov. 18, 1958 

